Colorado Rockies news and links for Friday, August 2, 2024
Usually, professional sports teams fall into two categories: competitive now or building for the future.
By refusing to embrace a rebuild, by rejecting proactive aggression in trades, by continuing to field a lineup with veterans who won’t be there when and if the team can ever contend for the postseason, and by simultaneously posting the worst record in the National League, the Rockies front office seems to think they are closer to the competitive now side of the spectrum.
The rest of the baseball world, armed with what they see and stats to back it up, knows the Rockies are in a free-flowing rebuild.
With a franchise-worst 103 losses last year and a bold lack of urgency that figures to match it or go even lower this season, the Rockies are boldly forging a path to a new category: purgatory.
In his comments about the trade deadline inaction to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, GM Bill Schmidt said, “We’ve got to get better, and we’re getting closer to that.”
I guess closer is subjective. It could be closer to more wins in two years or 10 or 50. In that sense, Schmidt is likely correct. At the same time, what he means and what fans believe have as much distance as the Rockies have between wins (40) and losses (70).
When it comes to not trading soon-to-be free agent Elias Díaz when his value was highest, GM Bill Schmidt said, “These things have a way of working themselves out.”
Really? They do? Can you provide any evidence to support how this inaction in the past worked out and gives us hope that it will work out in the future?
Instead, Schmidt’s quotes about the behind-the-scenes negotiations reveal a disturbing reality: the Rockies are out of their league and other teams are taking advantage of their failures. Schmidt said the inaction “wasn’t from lack of effort and conversation. Did we get to the finish line with some deals? No. But we got a feel for the value of some of our players. We’re trying to get better.”
Does that show that they didn’t know the value of their players going in? If that’s the case, perhaps limited trading was better than absolutely getting fleeced by other teams who do know the value of their players.
Meanwhile, on the field, the Rockies are bumbling their way to irrelevance. The Olympics — with the inspiring storylines and athletic feats that seem to break the laws of physics (yeah, I am talking about Simone Biles) — are much more rewarding to watch right now. If it’s between the Rockies or beach volleyball, soccer, basketball, or even handball, canoeing, trap shooting, judo, or table tennis, I’ll take any Olympic competition.
All the teams and athletes in the Olympics have a plan. They worked years to get there. They have to rise with the sport or take their sport to new levels by inventing new moves and trying things that have never been done before. They can’t just hope they’ll play better. They have to compete or else they go home.
It makes me wish the Rockies had to qualify to be a Major League Baseball franchise. They would have to earn it from their talent and front office/coaching operations. If they don’t qualify, they have to work harder and try again in the future. Would that force a change in operations?
Perhaps MLB should consider relegation like soccer leagues do across the globe. If you aren’t fielding a competitive team, you are demoted. If you improve and win the lower league, you can be promoted. Would that force the Rockies to accept reality and be aggressive before the trade deadline?
Since massive changes are unlikely coming for MLB in terms of relegation or qualification for participation by judges evaluating various criteria, the Rockies seem bound to drift in purgatory indefinitely. With losses mounting, the extra subscriptions required to watch games, and more alternatives competing for the attention of current and future fans, if the Rockies ever do chart a path to a playoff-bound reality, there may not be many of the purple faithful around to see it.
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Injuries & Moves: Márquez throws 34 pitches in bullpen session | MLB.com
There’s some good news on the injury and recovery front as Germán Márquez threw 34 pitches in his second live bullpen since going back on the IL on July 19. Prioritizing long-term health and the wish for a “normal offseason,” Márquez is going to throw one more bullpen session. If all goes well, then he could go on a rehab assignment or rejoin the rotation. Antonio Senzatela also threw a live bullpen session on July 31 and feels good. He’ll throw another session this weekend and then could be headed to the minors on a rehab gig.
Why Coors Field Features Two Copper Mountain Gondola Cabins | Unofficial Networks
A common fixture of the Rocky Mountains has made its way to the Mile High City, giving fans a chance to sit in a gondola and watch baseball from the center field pavilions at the same time.
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On the farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 9, Las Vegas Aviators 8
Jameson Hannah hit a grand slam and finished with six RBI and three hits, Elehuris Montero hit a solo homer and Hunter Stovall posted three hits and scored two runs as the Isotopes came from behind to win on Thursday. Hannah’s slam was part of a five-run eighth inning that saw Albuquerque go from down 6-4 to up 9-6.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 5, Reading Fightin Phils 4
Trailing 4-3 after six innings, the Yard Goats got a game-tying homer from Ronaiker Palma in the seventh and the eventual game-winning solo shot from Yanquiel Fernandez in the eighth on Thursday night. Fresh off being traded to the Rockies system from Pittsburgh for Jalen Beeks, 23-year-old LHP Luis Peralta threw a scoreless inning in the seventh with only one hit to get the win. He was one of four relievers to throw a scoreless inning to help the Yard Goats rally. Zach Kokoska posted three hits, including an RBI double and Nic Kent added a two-run double.
High-A: Hillsboro Hops 13, Spokane Indians 9
EJ Andrews Jr. hit a homer and two-run single, Juan Guerrero recorded three hits, one run scored and one run driven in, Jean Perez hit a three-run double and Kyle Karros drove in two runs on a double, but the Hops scored four runs in the seventh for the win. Jose Cordova scored twice and added two hits.
Low-A: Lake Elsinore Storm 4, Fresno Grizzlies 1
Nolan Jones went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in his third game rehabbing from a lower back strain, but it wasn’t enough for Fresno. Bryan Perez posted a quality start, giving up two runs on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings, but took the loss.
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